Albania recognises the existence of eight national minorities, namely the minorities of Macedonians, Greeks, Egyptians, Vlachs, Roma, Montenegrins, Serbs and Bosniaks. This is included in a text of a bill on the protection of minorities in Albania. The draft-law, already being forwarded to the national parliament, foresees advancement of the rights of minorities. Welcoming the move, the Tirana-based Macedonian Association ‘Ilinden’ underscores the fact that Albania is starting to show ‘a realistic picture’ about the minorities living in the country.
Albania since 1991 has not officialy recognized the constitutional name Republic Macedonia.
